The software is seven years old. It's still quite buggy. And it is in desperate need of an upgrade.

I don't know what is going on with Final Draft, other than the latest version seems to be terrible.

But honestly, MMS is looking like abandonware.

Let us know what is happening.

But tbh, seven year old software isn't worth the price being asked on the website. (I already own it, so I have no dog in the fight.)

I have been interested in Dramatica Pro, but I get so many e-mails saying "Dramatica Pro is on sale for..." that it doesn't ring to me as a sale but as regular price. I'm waiting for a real sale. Especially for -- again -- old software.

See? Notice I keep using the world "old". This is not a good thing.

Windows XP is "old". It's a great OS, but it's old, therefore abandoned.

We are working on the long term solutions for all the various bugs and annoyances that are part of a complete reworking of Screenwriter (it's gotten so complex internally that fixing one thing breaks three others). No, there is no E.T.A., but a team of our engineers are actively working on the new version(s).

Dramatica for Windows (i.e. Dramatica Story Expert for Windows) is going through a similar re-engineering. Also, no E.T.A.

These are not excuses for the length of time between significant versions of our software, just explanations of how we are working on the updates to them.

Well, I'm glad I stuck with MMS, but only for the Name Bank. That is the one thing that swayed me to MMS over Final Draft. (Really, FD's name bank is horrid awful to work with...at least when I tried it. I don't know what their new version is like.)

But honestly, any new version of Screenwriter needs to blow my mind for the price I assume you're going to be asking, or I may be tempted to just go with another programme. I'm not trying to be mean or a problem child or anything like that, so please accept this as simply feedback:

Given that we've had MMS6 for so many years, buggy and with no patch, and with so infrequent updates, the reputation for this is a little on the low side. Especially given the competition which updates (and patches) their software far, far, FAR(!) more frequently.

I know, and I understand, that you have coding problems. After so many years, I can only imagine the spaghetti programing that must be under the hood. I was a programer myself for a number of years. I know your pain. I share it. I have the t-shirt.

But as a user, I know you can understand that those are not really my problems. We're selfish beasts, and all we want is working, up-to-date software. Whatever stands between us and that package is so far off our radar that it doesn't even come into consideration.

Maybe you could consider letting a few tidbits out. What is coming? What can we look forward to? And, because patches have been non-existent, an ETA. Yes, I know you cringe at giving those, but in the end it will be more helpful than harmful. Unless we're talking years down the line. Then maybe I really do need to take another look at the competition.

OK, so here is a quicky update. There is a free update for the in the near offing for Mac Screenwriter with a completely new spell checker and thesaurus support. Regarding the Windows version, we have a completely new version in development -- new from the ground up. I'm not at liberty to say when the the new Windows version will be out at this time.

Thanks. We are taking our time and it is coming along nicely...just slowly. Screenwriter has so many features in it that its taking us a while to catch up to it while making design and functionality enhancements along the way.

I just want to put in my .02 and ask one of you to please start posting in screenwriter forums. Every time the issue comes up, I point out a that MMSW leaves EVERYBODY in the road. Yeah, it's a bit buggy and yeah, hard to believe there will ever be an update, and pretty sure most of the pro customers, the studios and such, have gone somewhere else.

But what is said inevitably by someone is: "MMSW is Abandonware." Unless someone from the company shows up to contradict this, there's no answer. Word of mouth is your best advertising. /r/screenwriting on Reddit, Done Deal Forums offer plenty of serious newbs and working writers. Customers.

But unless you guys come out of hiding - it's impossible to promote you. Even when I tell a poster about a feature and he comes back with that's exactly what I'm looking for! But he won't buy it because someone else says "They'll never update." And I can't say he's wrong. I wish you would.

Excellent suggestions. We are remiss in self-promotion. I'll see about getting our staff to monitor those forums and comment when appropriate. Cheers!

By the way, the whole "unpublished writer" thing had to do with how many comments users have left, not their actual status in the real world. I've modified it so that those new to the forums will now be labeled as "writer", not "unpublished writer".